CENTCOM
March 24, 2003
Release Number: 03-03-55
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
First Predator Strike Takes out Anti-Air Threat
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM - A U.S. Air Force MQ-1 Predator found and destroyed a radar-guided anti-aircraft artillery piece in southern Iraq Saturday at 5:25 EST making it the first Predator strike of Operation Iraqi Freedom, defense officials announced.
The multi-role Predator used one AGM-114K "Hellfire II" missile to strike an Iraqi ZSU-23-4 Mobile anti-aircraft artillery gun outside the southern Iraqi town of Al Amarah.
The Predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle remotely piloted from a ground control station.
"The RQ-1 model is used for reconnaissance, while the MQ-1 model is used as an unmanned strike platform," said Lt. Col. Brian Pierson, Chief of Reconnaissance Operations at the Combined Air Operations Center located on a desert air base in Southwest Asia.
The ZSU-23-4 is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun with a self-contained radar dish for finding and tracking airborne targets. The anti-aircraft systems pose a significant threat to Coalition flying operations, said Pierson. Predators have executed successful strikes previously in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.
